Even if you have glasses (the kind you put on your face, not the kind you fill with liquid), you still see your eye doctor yearly, right? Because your eyes change as time passes. Similar to the rest of your body, your eyes aren’t static and neither are your ears. That’s why, just as it is with your eyes, it’s crucial to keep getting your ears examined even after you’ve purchased a nice pair of hearing aids.
Many individuals, regrettably, skip those yearly appointments. Perhaps they’ve been too busy enjoying their lives to get back in to see your physician. Or, it could be that your job has been hectic lately. Or perhaps you’ve just decided not to go back in because you’re so happy with your hearing aids. It seems like that would be good, right?
Scheduling a hearing test
Let’s take Daphne as an imaginary example. Daphne has been noticing some red flags associated with her hearing for some time now. She keeps turning the TV up. She has problems following discussions at after-work happy hours in noisy restaurants. And so, she goes in to have her hearing assessed (because she’s intelligent and she takes care of herself).
After having her hearing examined, Daphne does everything she’s supposed to: she gets fitted for new hearing aids and has them correctly calibrated, and then gets back to her normal routine.
Problem solved? Well, not quite. Going in for a screening allowed her to recognize her hearing loss early and that’s excellent. But, in the long run, follow-up care becomes even more important for individuals with even a small amount of hearing loss. Maintaining regular appointments would be a smart plan for Daphne. But Daphne isn’t alone in avoiding check-ups, according to one survey, just 33% of seniors with hearing aids also scheduled routine hearing services.
Why do you need check-ups after you get hearing aids?
Okay, remember our glasses metaphor? Daphne’s hearing won’t become static and stop changing just because she has hearing aids. Her hearing aids will have to be adjusted to counter those changes. Regular testing helps keep track of any changes in hearing and catch issues early.
And there are other benefits to having regular hearing assessments once you get hearing aids. Some of the most common reasons to ensure you make it to your next appointment include:
- Your fit may change: Because your ears are always changing, it’s entirely possible that how your hearing aids fit around and in your ears will change. Making certain your hearing aids continue to fit properly is a big part of your regular check-ups.
- Hearing aid calibration: Your hearing changes in slight ways, and while your general hearing may remain consistent, these small changes may require you to get regular hearing assessments. Without this calibration, your hearing aids could slowly become less and less effective.
- Hearing deterioration: Your hearing could continue to worsen even if you use hearing aids. Often, this deterioration of your hearing is very gradual and without regular examinations, you most likely won’t even detect it. Proper adjustments to your hearing aids can frequently slow hearing loss.
Hazards and roadblocks
The problem is, Daphne may, in her frustration, quit using her hearing aids altogether because they’re not functioning correctly. Over time, hearing loss can be slowed by wearing hearing aids. If you stop using them, not only can your hearing deteriorate faster, you might not detect it right away.
In terms of attaining efficient performance of your hearing aids, and optimal hearing, routine hearing exams are vital. Annual hearing exams or screenings can help you make sure your hearing aids are working as they should and that your hearing remains protected.